Ingram is just one of the guys

Published: Friday, July 18, 2014 at 01:45 AM.

Brandon Ingram was just one of the guys, as difficult as that may be given the senior stands at 6-foot-9 and sports a 7-4 wing span.

But there, on Thursday at ht Jacksonville Commons Recreation Center for a pre-camp meeting during the annual East Coast Invitational, the Kinston High School basketball standout was blending in as he stood in line with his teammates without any fanfare as they entered the gym.

While the biggest name of the ECI this year and a big-time Division I recruit, Ingram felt at ease being in the mix with other Kinston players and out of the limelight.

He appreciates his teammates and his coaches, which led to his decision to join the three-time defending NCHSAA 2-A champion Vikings this week in the ECI instead of playing in the Stackhouse Elite, an AAU tournament in Atlanta.

“I’m just coming off being in Chicago and I came back to Kinston to be with my teammates,” Ingram said. “I wanted to show my character a little bit and show how much these guys mean to me. They were in Mount Olive a couple of weeks ago and I wasn’t with them. So I wanted to get them back and be a leader.”

This has been a busy summer for Ingram as he continues to draw offers from a number of major collegiate programs, including Duke, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky, Kansas and UCLA. The 182-pound Ingram is the 12th-ranked player in the class of 2015 by ESPN, and he’s attended other camps in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Charlottesville, Va. He said he’s also worked with NBA trainer Mark Adams.

Brandon Ingram was just one of the guys, as difficult as that may be given the senior stands at 6-foot-9 and sports a 7-4 wing span.

But there, on Thursday at ht Jacksonville Commons Recreation Center for a pre-camp meeting during the annual East Coast Invitational, the Kinston High School basketball standout was blending in as he stood in line with his teammates without any fanfare as they entered the gym.

While the biggest name of the ECI this year and a big-time Division I recruit, Ingram felt at ease being in the mix with other Kinston players and out of the limelight.

He appreciates his teammates and his coaches, which led to his decision to join the three-time defending NCHSAA 2-A champion Vikings this week in the ECI instead of playing in the Stackhouse Elite, an AAU tournament in Atlanta.

“I’m just coming off being in Chicago and I came back to Kinston to be with my teammates,” Ingram said. “I wanted to show my character a little bit and show how much these guys mean to me. They were in Mount Olive a couple of weeks ago and I wasn’t with them. So I wanted to get them back and be a leader.”

This has been a busy summer for Ingram as he continues to draw offers from a number of major collegiate programs, including Duke, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky, Kansas and UCLA. The 182-pound Ingram is the 12th-ranked player in the class of 2015 by ESPN, and he’s attended other camps in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Charlottesville, Va. He said he’s also worked with NBA trainer Mark Adams.

Ingram’s latest trip was to the Adidas Unrivaled Camp in Chicago.

“I’ve been doing a lot of things away from Kinston just working on my game,” Ingram said.

And Jacksonville is one of Ingram’s stops, a visit he embraces because he gets to share the experience with his high school teammates.

“Of course people asked me why I picked Jacksonville and not Atlanta, and on Twitter you get a lot of mentions, but you just have to look at the right things and not see the negativity,” Ingram said. “Actually a guy from Forrest Hills High School, a coach or whoever, said on Twitter that ‘this just shows his character and how he loves his team.’

“I just love to be out here with my team. I just want to be a leader on the floor, point out what they are doing wrong and congratulate them what they are doing right. We are hoping to win another state championship.”

“You hear the words ‘great kid’ said a lot, but this kid is different. He is unique in the fact he does want to be here with his high school teammates,” Tyndall said. “Brandon is very special. He’s extremely driven. He’s had an incredible summer, and he’s gotten better. But this says a lot about him. It says that he values the importance of this camp and his teammates and the coaching staff.”

Ingram averaged 19.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game last season in earning all-state honors from The Associated Press as well as being named the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association District 3 player of the year.

He was also most valuable player in the Vikings’ 67-57 victory over North Rowan in the state final in March.

But Ingram understands the importance of playing within the Kinston system, and that approach was on full display as the Vikings took a 37-28 half-time lead in the championship game, Tyndall said.

Ingram finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds.

“In the state championship game he had five points and I think three rebounds in the first half,” Tyndall said. “He’s going to do what it takes to win and he’s always been that type of player. He erupted for 23 points in the second half. His confidence is high, he’s aggressive and he knows what he needs to do, but he knows it’s not all about him but about the team.”

Still, in the back of Ingram’s mind is his college decision, which he hopes to make in September or October. Other programs that have offered include Florida, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth.

“Of course a deciding factor will be who I can make the biggest impact for in my freshman year,” Ingram said. “I want to make a big impact my freshman year and then stay for another year.”

Ingram doesn’t hold back in saying what he wants to do after that.

“I actually had a conversation with coach Bill Self from Kansas the other night and he came out and asked me, ‘How many years do you think you will be in college?’ I said no more than two years and he agreed with me. That’s my ultimate dream. I will see how everything works outs.”

As scary as it is for opposing high school teams, Ingram said he’s improved as a player as he continues to solidify his future. While he said his individual goal is to not settle for jump shots, he added he’s improved his mid-range jump shot along with his defense awareness.

Tyndall sees that, too.

“He’s staying aggressive, attacking the mid-range and getting stronger,” the coach said. “He’s really worked hard toward those things along with his ball handling. He’s a guy who for us can really play one through five, and as crazy as it sounds you can see him handling the point guard position. He’s so versatile, maybe one of the most versatile players in the nation.”

Ingram realizes that he is clearly the man for Kinston basketball, but in other ways he is still a kid. He still enjoys the company of his friends and doesn’t want his success to deter him from living his life.

Ingram just likes being one of the guys.

“I think I’ve handled it (pressure) pretty good,” he said. “I just go through every day like I’m just like everybody else. I know how blessed I am and that anything can be taken from you and I just like being a helping hand, knowing I had helping hands to get to the place where I am today.”